We were fortunate to catch up with some brilliant artists, creatives and entrepreneurs from throughout the Houston area and they share the wisdom with us below.

Montse Baraldés

Over time, we’ve come to see balance as a continuous exchange between inspiration and creation. Ceramics MIM is deeply inspired by Mallorca—its landscape, its light, and the local way of life—and that connection to place helps kees us grounded. The island’s natural beauty and slower pace have influenced both our personal life and our creative process, encouraging a rhythm that feels organic. Balance for us isn’t so much about separating work from life but about allowing each to enrich the other, staying attuned to both our creative drive and the need to recharge. Read more>>

Tina Tiq

As a Doctor of Pharmacy who also thrives as a beauty and wellness influencer, my journey to achieving work-life balance has been both challenging and rewarding. Initially, the demands of my pharmacy career alongside my passion for makeup, wellness, and travel were tough. However, I’ve come to realize that achieving balance is an ongoing journey rather than a fixed destination. Now, I prioritize my roles by setting dedicated hours for my pharmacy responsibilities while carving out time to create content that inspires others in beauty and wellness. Emphasizing flexibility and self-care, I integrate travel and lifestyle experiences into my routine, allowing me to recharge and find inspiration. For anyone navigating similar challenges, I recommend exploring your passions, setting boundaries, and embracing change to cultivate a fulfilling life that harmonizes both professional aspirations and personal joys. Read more>>

Lele Jones Wallace

As a holistic health coach and yoga teacher, my mission has always been to empower women to build confidence, reshape their lives, and become the best version of themselves. I’m driven by a vision to reach more health-focused and health-curious women, ideally on a larger scale, whether through speaking at conferences or leading virtual group programs. My goal is to create impactful, affordable coaching and safe spaces for women to heal and flourish. Read more>>

Jurika Iriyama

A mantra that has deeply shaped my life is, “What is meant for me is already on its way.” This phrase has been my anchor, especially in my journey toward building a career in social media while balancing the demands of corporate life. Pursuing my passion in content creation hasn’t always been easy, and there were moments when the path forward seemed unclear. This mantra reminds me to trust the timing of my journey and helps me find peace in each step, even when the results aren’t immediate. Read more>>

Yvonne Armenta

This is not the full quote, but the part of it that I resonate with is this: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be?” Read more>>

Nancy Stephens

The idea for my business came to me during one of the most transformative times in my life- when I was a stay-at-home mom, breastfeeding my children. I had an oversupply of breast milk and didn’t want it to go to waste. That’s when inspiration struck: I decided to try making breast milk soaps. Read more>>

Avivit Ohana

After October 7, the connection between the global Jewish community and Israel became more crucial than ever. My own bond with the American Jewish community began when I was just 13 years old, attending URJ summer camps in the U.S. as a teenager from Israel. On the professional side, my journey as an entrepreneur, having founded an e-commerce company and worked in corporate, VC, and startups, always fueled my passion for bridging the entrepreneurial world of the Startup Nation with the global Jewish community. Read more>>

Geli Taase

I’ve always loved creating videos and slideshows to share with my family. I was a content creator before being a “content creator” was even a thing. For a while, I lost touch with it, but then social media came along, and I saw it becoming a creative outlet. People were sharing beautiful, story-driven videos about their lives, and I knew I wanted to do something similar. But at that time, it didn’t seem like a realistic path. Read more>>

Tory Zamakhovskaya

Success for me is to have the freedom to be able to visit family or go somewhere whenever I want. To not have debt and just live comfortably. To have happy customers and knowing that my product made someone smile that day.

What was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I’m someone who doesn’t put much time into planning outfits—I’m usually in jeans and a t-shirt. But I believe everyone deserves to feel confident and cute, even without much effort. I wanted to create something for busy moms, office workers, adventure-seekers—really anyone—so they could add a little something special to their look without overthinking it. That’s how I landed on the idea of functional yet stylish hair accessories, like cute wristbands that double as durable hair ties. Read more>>

Estela Leyva

As an entrepreneur, it’s all mindset. Everyday it is mindset . Now , not all days are hard, we have wins too. But when the tough days show up ,
You have to be your own coach, the voice that pushes you , the one that encourages you. You need to ask yourself, how bad do you want to succeed ? Read more>>

Margarita Hanke

As a parent, one of the most important things I believe I’ve done is to nurture my children’s individuality while encouraging a sense of responsibility and compassion. I’ve always tried to be a role model by pursuing my own passions in art and music, showing them the value of following their own paths and staying true to themselves. At the same time, I’ve instilled in them the importance of kindness, resilience, and the strength to face challenges. Read more>>

Haley Henry

As a parent, I truly believe that one of the most important things I’ve done for my children is to be a role model they can look up to. It warms my heart to know that they see me as someone they can admire and learn from. I strive to embody qualities like kindness, integrity, and perseverance because I want them to understand the value of these traits. Read more>>

Ja’Mia Brooks

Other than deciding to work for myself, the single most important decision I made was to commit fully to consistency and quality. Consistency meant showing up, no matter what meaning posting content regularly, engaging with my audience, and maintaining my presence even during challenging times. It’s not just about being there but being dependable, so my audience knows they can count on me for fresh, engaging content. Read more>>

Melyna Blanco

Time management, attention to detail, passion, and perseverance are key habits that contribute to my success.

Time management helps me prioritize tasks and stay organized while attention to detail ensures that I produce high-quality work which helps set me apart. Passion keeps me motivated, fuels my creativity, and helps me push through challenges, making the work more enjoyable and sustainable. Finally, perseverance allows me to overcome setbacks and stay focused on long-term success. Read more>>

Shawny Ellsworth

My legacy is one of empowerment, transformation, and authenticity. Through Exquisite Aesthetics and Exquisite Beauty Skin, I strive to help others feel confident and radiant in their own skin. My work is about more than beauty—it’s about healing, embracing individuality, and uplifting people to recognize their worth. Read more>>